Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central secretary general Professor Mia Golam Parwar stated that the country is not safe in the hands of those who seek to dishonor women. He said this while addressing an election rally on Saturday, January 31, at the Gazipur Khan Model Government School and College field in Titas upazila, Comilla. The event was organized by the 11-party alliance in support of its parliamentary candidate for Comilla-2 (Homna-Titas), Md. Nazim Uddin Molla.

At the same rally, National Citizen Party (NCP) south region chief organizer and Comilla-4 candidate Hasnat Abdullah criticized a local figure he described as a “sand trader,” alleging corruption and misuse of party positions. He claimed that grassroots BNP activists themselves wanted freedom from such leadership and urged young voters to remain united and help ensure victory for the 11-party alliance.

The meeting was chaired by Nazim Uddin Molla and attended by senior Jamaat and alliance leaders from Comilla and nearby regions, highlighting the coalition’s coordinated campaign efforts ahead of the upcoming election.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s women affairs secretary Nurunnisa Siddika stated that women cannot hold top leadership positions in the party, citing adherence to Islamic principles. Speaking to reporters at the Election Commission on Sunday, she said the Qur’an designates men as guardians and leaders of women, and the party’s structure follows that guidance. She described the decision not to nominate female candidates in the upcoming parliamentary election as an internal policy matter.

Siddika emphasized that the presence of women in top positions is not the main concern; rather, ensuring women’s rights, dignity, and safety is more important. She argued that despite Bangladesh having female prime ministers over the past five decades, violence against women and gender inequality persist, suggesting that moral and just leadership, not gender, is key to social progress.

Earlier, a Jamaat delegation met Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin to discuss political and electoral issues. The party’s women leaders alleged that female activists faced at least 15 attacks in different districts and that women voters were being intimidated ahead of the election.

BNP central leader and former minister Advocate M Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, contesting from Natore-2 constituency with the paddy sheaf symbol, alleged that during the Awami League’s nearly 18 years in power, Natore became a hub of terror like other parts of the country. He made the remarks on Sunday while addressing roadside gatherings and conducting mass outreach in Chanpur Bazar and other areas of Kafuria Union in Natore Sadar.

Dulu accused the ruling party of killings, abductions, and looting, claiming it deprived citizens of their rights to food and vote. He pledged that if the BNP wins the upcoming parliamentary election on February 12, the party would restore peace in Natore and across Bangladesh, ensuring no tolerance for terrorism or extortion. He also said that under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, people’s confidence in the BNP has grown, and the party aims to build a new Bangladesh based on a 31-point plan.

Dulu further stated that during his tenure as MP and minister, he had implemented significant development projects in Natore, but alleged that the Awami League government neglected development and engaged in corruption.

Munshi Rafiqul Alam Majnu, the BNP candidate for Feni-1 constituency and convener of Dhaka South BNP, stated that only Allah has the power to grant entry to heaven, not any political party. He made the remarks on Sunday, February 1, during daylong campaign events and street meetings across several wards of Boxmahmud Union in Parshuram upazila.

Majnu criticized a political party for allegedly seeking votes by claiming that voters would attain heaven through their support. He emphasized that such claims contradict Islamic teachings, noting that only ten companions of the Prophet were assured of heaven during their lifetimes. He described Jamaat as a fundamentalist organization and warned that its rise to power would harm the country.

Calling for votes for the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, Majnu urged voters to bring the party back to power for national development and safety. Several BNP and affiliated leaders were present at the campaign events in different wards of Boxmahmud Union.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan criticized the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for not stating its position on alleged Indian aggression. Speaking at a street rally on Sunday at Shahjadpur BSCIC bus stand in Sirajganj, he said that while anti-hegemony forces once protested such acts, a major political party has remained silent. He urged voters to support anti-aggression candidates and announced that if the 11-party alliance came to power, it would arrange double training for army personnel.

Bhuiyan, also chairman of the NCP election management committee, accused a nationalist party of nominating foreign citizens as candidates who would leave the country after elections. He pledged to build a corruption-free and well-governed Bangladesh, ensuring fair rewards for workers, and called for votes for Saif Mostafiz under the Shapla symbol. He further urged citizens to vote “yes” in a referendum to prevent authoritarian rule.

Several NCP leaders, including Monira Sharmin, Tarikul Islam, Sakib Mahdi, and Yasin Arafat, were present at the event and visited the grave of Shaheed Abu Sayeed.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that its Amir, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s official X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked as part of a deep conspiracy. According to the party, hackers used the email address of a Bangabhaban official to gain access and post objectionable content intended to damage the Amir’s image. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, and the account was reportedly compromised at 4:37 p.m. before being detected around 5 p.m. Jamaat’s cyber team regained control shortly afterward and filed a general diary with the police that night.

At a press conference held Sunday morning at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer described the hacking as a deliberate attempt to malign the party and its leadership. He said the attack followed several days of hacking attempts targeting Jamaat’s social media pages. Cyber team members presented digital evidence showing that another senior leader’s account was also hacked at the same time.

Jamaat leaders stated they will inform the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies, urging a full investigation into the use of the Bangabhaban official’s email and the broader cyberattack.

Senior Vice President of the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, Yasin Ali, has alleged that BNP supporters and their families are facing coordinated attacks across Bangladesh. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday at the BNP Election Steering Committee office in Gulshan, he claimed that a violent assault took place on January 21, 2025, in Jagannathpur Union of Comilla’s 14-Gram upazila. The attack allegedly targeted the family of Mizan Khan, a local BNP volunteer leader, leaving several relatives, including elderly and children, critically injured.

Yasin Ali accused Jamaat-Shibir activists of orchestrating the assault under the direction of Jamaat candidate Abdul Mohammad Taher. He said around two hundred armed men carried out the attack with local weapons, aiming to kill the entire family. The injured were admitted to Comilla General Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for critical care.

During the briefing, Yasin Ali condemned the incident, demanded the immediate arrest of those involved, and warned that continued violence would be resisted by mobilizing the public alongside BNP volunteers.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed that India’s support for Palestine will continue. He made the statement on Saturday in New Delhi during a meeting with Palestinian Deputy Foreign Minister Varsen Agabekian Shahin, held on the sidelines of the second India-Arab foreign ministers’ meeting. According to The Hindu, Modi reiterated India’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and welcomed ongoing peace efforts, including the Gaza peace plan.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said Modi highlighted the deep and historical ties between India and the Arab world, which have long inspired and strengthened bilateral relations. He also outlined a roadmap for future India-Arab partnerships, emphasizing commitments to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, energy, technology, healthcare, and other priority sectors for the mutual benefit of both sides.

The meeting underscored India’s intention to maintain balanced engagement with Arab nations while supporting peace initiatives in the Middle East.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman alleged that a political party was trying to secure parliamentary seats through killings. He made the remark on Sunday afternoon at a roadside gathering in Sherpur’s Gopalakhila High School field after visiting the grave of Maulana Rezaul Karim, the slain Jamaat secretary of Sreebardi upazila, who died in recent election-related clashes.

Dr. Rahman expressed grief over Rezaul’s death and urged supporters to respond through ballots on February 12. He criticized the administration for failing to arrest anyone despite a murder case being filed and called on officials to remain neutral. He also demanded a fair investigation and justice for the killing.

The violence occurred on January 28 during an election manifesto event at Jhenaigati Mini Stadium, where BNP and Jamaat activists clashed over seating arrangements. Rezaul Karim later died from his injuries, and his wife filed a case naming 231 individuals, including BNP candidate Mahmudul Haque Rubel, but no arrests have been made so far.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced that the Islamic Republic will now classify all European Union military forces as terrorist groups. The declaration came after the European Union designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization in response to Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests. The announcement was reported by ABC News.

Ghalibaf stated that the decision was made under Article 7 of Iran’s law governing reciprocal measures against foreign actions. As a gesture of solidarity, he addressed the parliamentary session wearing the uniform of the Revolutionary Guards. The move marks Tehran’s direct retaliation against the EU’s earlier decision.

Earlier, the European Union had listed the IRGC as a terrorist organization following what it described as brutal repression of Iranian protesters. The reciprocal designation by Iran signals further deterioration in relations between Tehran and European governments.

Professor Ali Riaz, special assistant to the Chief Adviser, said the July Charter was formulated to prevent any future authoritarian rule in Bangladesh. Speaking on Sunday at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet, he stated that the nation had endured 16 years under personal dictatorship before the 2024 mass uprising brought temporary relief from fascism. He emphasized that the current constitution still allows the possibility of autocracy, and therefore the upcoming referendum must secure a 'Yes' victory to enforce the July Charter.

Riaz explained that the July Charter, drafted through consensus among all political parties, aims to ensure democratic governance and constitutional accountability. He said a 'Yes' vote would enable joint formation of the caretaker government and Election Commission by the government and opposition, restrict unilateral constitutional amendments, and limit any individual to a maximum of ten years as prime minister. It would also guarantee judicial independence and prevent the return of fascism.

Vice-chancellors from several universities in Sylhet region also spoke at the event, supporting the call for democratic reforms.

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that the level of freedom currently visible on Facebook and other social media platforms was not present during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at the World Trade Center in Chattogram after a meeting with law enforcement officials. Chowdhury cautioned that freedom does not mean spreading false information or creating confusion.

Responding to a question, he said shutting down Facebook or the internet is no longer acceptable and that action would be taken against anyone attempting such measures. He emphasized that everyone should be able to write and express opinions freely. According to him, journalists previously operated under restrictions and lacked the courage to question the Home Minister, but that situation has now changed.

Chowdhury also commented that the law and order situation in Chattogram surrounding the election remains stable, with the army, Border Guard Bangladesh, and police working in coordination to prevent any disorder.

BNP Chairman’s adviser and Chapainawabganj-1 candidate Professor Md. Shahjahan Miah has claimed that not a single BNP worker in Chapainawabganj has joined Jamaat-e-Islami. He made the statement on Sunday morning during an election campaign in favor of the ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol at Kamalakantapur village in Shibganj’s Chhatarajipur Union. Miah alleged that Jamaat members were staging photo sessions with their own activists wearing garlands to spread false claims.

He described BNP as an ideological, strong, and popular political party, asserting that the idea of any member defecting to Jamaat was baseless. According to him, Jamaat was spreading rumors and conspiracies after seeing the growing support for BNP ahead of the January 12 election. He also said that many Jamaat members had instead joined BNP, though the party did not wish to publicize it.

Miah urged supporters to remain alert against rumors and to unite in voting for the ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol. Local BNP leaders, including Shibganj Upazila convener Ashraful Haque and Taufiqul Islam, were present at the campaign event.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Sitakunda on Monday, where a large political rally will be held at Sitakunda High School field under the initiative of the Chattogram North District 11-party alliance. Organizers expect over 150,000 participants at the event, which has already generated significant political interest across Sitakunda, Mirsarai, Sandwip, and other parts of northern Chattogram.

Ahead of the rally, a meeting with local journalists was held at the Jamaat office in Sitakunda to ensure smooth and peaceful arrangements. Organizers described the gathering as more than a political event, calling it a platform to discuss future political directions, democratic restoration, and citizens’ rights. Dr. Rahman is expected to address current political issues, elections, and public aspirations.

Over 50 volunteer teams are working on preparations, including stage setup, sound systems, separate seating for men and women, medical and water facilities, and safety measures. Police and volunteers will jointly manage traffic and security. Speakers at the preparatory meeting said the rally would strengthen political awareness and direct engagement between party leadership and the public.

Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Elias Mia announced that 451 remote polling centers in the district will be brought under closed-circuit camera surveillance. He made the statement on Sunday morning while speaking to journalists, emphasizing that the initiative aims to ensure a peaceful and transparent election process in the region.

The deputy commissioner described Sunamganj as a generally peaceful district with limited political tension. However, he noted that transportation and the movement of election materials in remote haor areas are difficult, and in case of any unrest, it would be hard to reach those locations quickly or preserve election records properly. To address these challenges, the administration decided to install CCTV cameras in those 451 centers.

According to the district administration, the use of surveillance cameras is expected to help maintain neutrality and transparency during the upcoming election process in Sunamganj’s remote areas.